Dahlia plant named `Daparos`

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named `Daparos`, characterized by its fully double red purple inflorescences; uniform growth habit; dark green foliage; and strong peduncles that hold inflorescences above the foliage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Dahliaplant, botanically known as Dahlia variabilis, and hereinafter referredto by the name Daparos.

The new Dahlia is a naturally-occurring mutation of the yellow-floweredDahlia variabilis `Margaret` disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,769. Thenew Dahlia was discovered by the Inventor in a controlled environment inEnkhuizen, The Netherlands, within a population of plants of `Margaret`.The selection of this plant was based on its fully double red purpleinflorescences.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia by terminal cuttings harvested inEnkhuizen, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of thisnew Dahlia are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Dahlia has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without,however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Daparos`. These characteristics incombination distinguish `Daparos` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Fully double red purple inflorescences.

2. Dark green foliage.

3. Strong peduncles that hold inflorescences above the foliage.

The new Dahlia differs from the sibling cultivar `Dapavio`, disclosed inU.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 09/221,689, most prominently inray floret color. Additionally, plants of the new Dahlia are lesscompact than plants of `Dapavio`.

The new Dahlia is somewhat similar in ray floret color to the Dahliacultivar `Lizzy`, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,846. However inside-by-side comparisons conducted in West Chicago, Ill., plants of thenew Dahlia differ from plants of the cultivar `Lizzy` in the followingcharacteristics:

1. Plants of the new Dahlia are taller and broader than plants of thecultivar `Lizzy`.

2. Plants of the new Dahlia have smaller, darker green, and morenumerous leaves than plants of the cultivar `Lizzy`.

3. Plants of the new Dahlia have smaller inflorescences, but are morefloriferous than plants of the cultivar `Lizzy`.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photographcomprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of the new Dahlia.Ray floret and foliage colors may appear different from the actualcolors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown outdoors in West Chicago, Ill.,in 11.5-cm containers in a glass greenhouse with average day and nighttemperatures of 22 and 18° C., respectively.

Botanical classification: Dahlia variabilis `Daparos`.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring mutation of Dahlia variabilis `Margaret`,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,769.

Propagation:

Type.--By terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--About 7 days with temperatures of 18° C.

Time to develop roots.--About 21 days with temperatures of 18° C.

Rooting habit.--Terminal cuttings propagate easily, roots fibrous andwell-branched.

Tubers.--Plants of the new Dahlia will form tubers under short dayconditions, that is at least 13 to 14 hours of darkness. Tubers areroughly thumb-shaped, about 1.9 cm in width and about 3.2 cm in length.

Plant description:

Appearance.--Pot plant and perennial garden plant. Upright and uniformgrowth habit, rounded apex. Moderate growth rate and moderatelyvigorous. Appropriate for 10 to 12.5-cm containers. Plants typicallyflower about 8 weeks after planting rooted cuttings.

Plant height.--About 27 cm.

Plant spread.--About 24 cm.

Stem description.--Quantity: About five per plant. Basally branching,however, plants typically require pinching to enhance lateral branchdevelopment. Lateral branch length: About 19 cm. Lateral branchdiameter: About 5 mm. Internode length: About 2 cm. Texture: Smooth.Color: 144C.

Foliage description.--Arrangement: Young foliage, leaves single; fullyexpanded foliage, leaves compound, trifoliate; opposite. Quantity ofleaves per lateral branch: About 12. Leaf length: About 6.5 cm. Leafwidth: About 5.5 cm. Terminal leaflet length: About 5.5 cm. Terminalleaflet width: About 3.5 cm. Leaflet shape: Ovate. Leaflet apex:Acuminate. Leaflet base: Attenuate. Leaflet margin: Serrate to dentate.Texture: Slightly velvety, pubescence on both surfaces. Petiole length:About 2.3 cm. Petiole diameter: About 2 mm. Color: Fully expandedfoliage, upper surface: 147A with 144C venation. Fully expanded foliage,lower surface: 147B with 144C venation. Petiole: 144C.

Flowering description:

Appearance.--Fully double inflorescence form. Inflorescences generallyhemispherical and borne on terminals above foliage, arising from leafaxils on strong peduncles; inflorescences face upright. Typically aboutfour inflorescences and buds per lateral stem. Disc and ray floretsarranged acropetally on a capitulum. Persistent. Inflorescencestypically last about nine days on the plant. Inflorescences are notfragrant.

Flowering response.--Under natural conditions, plants flowerintermittently from July to October in the Northern Hemisphere.

Flower bud (just before opening).--Shape: Rounded to flat. Length: About1.9 cm. Diameter: About 1.6 cm.

Inflorescence size.--Diameter: About 8 cm. Depth (height): About 4 cm.Disc diameter: About 8 mm.

Ray florets.--Quantity per inflorescence: About 60. Shape: Elliptic,cupped. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Apex: Rounded toslightly pointed. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Satiny,glabrous. Color: When opening, upper surface: 71A. When opening, lowersurface: 71B. Fully opened, upper surface: Center, 59B; margins, lighterthan 72A. Fully opened, lower surface: 72B.

Disc florets.--Elongated, cylindrical; few, typically less than 10.

Peduncle.--Aspect: Erect and strong. Length: About 6 cm. Texture:Smooth. Color: 144C.

Involucral bracts.--Quantity: About 6. Shape: Sharply elliptic. Tip:Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth, shiny. Color: Upper, 147A;lower, 147B.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium (Present on disc florets): Pollenamount: Moderate. Pollen color: 23A. Gynoecium present on ray and discflorets.

Disease resistance: Resistance to known Dahlia diseases has not beenobserved on plants grown under commercial greenhouse conditions.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named`Daparos`, as illustrated and described.